Eastern Returns Home Wednesday, Nov. 24, for Pre-Thanksgiving Matinee

Men's Basketball vs. Western Illinois
Date	Wednesday, Nov. 24 \| 3 p.m. ET
Venue	Ypsilanti, Mich. \| Convocation Center
Preview Info	EMU Notes \| Media Guide.
Live Stats	Fan Stats \| Media Stats
Watch	ESPN3
Listen	WEMU (89.1 WEMU-FM) \| The Varsity Network App \| Eastern Insider Podcast
Twitter	@EMU_MBB \| @EMUAthletics

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University men's basketball team will return home to the Convocation Center when it welcomes Western Illinois University to Ypsilanti Wednesday, Nov. 24. The game is a part of the DePaul Blue Demon Classic and is set to tip off at 3 p.m.
   Eastern (1-3, 0-0 MAC) is coming off an 83-59 loss at Michigan State, Nov. 20, inside the Breslin Center. Western Illinois (3-1, 0-0 Summit) most recently fell to DePaul 84-80, on the same day. The Leathernecks will play Northern Kentucky Monday, Nov. 22, before coming to the Convocation Center to play the Eagles.
   The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Ryan Wooley (pxp), Justin Rose (analyst), and Lauren Withrow (sideline) on the call. Meanwhile, veteran broadcaster Tom Helmer will also bring fans the action on WEMU (89.1 FM) and the Varsity Sports App.

LONG TIME COMING: After a nearly 46 year gap, Eastern Michigan and Western Illinois will reunite on the hardwood. The last time they played was Dec. 30, 1975, but met 28 times in the years prior as members of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. EMU was a member of the IAAC from 1950-62, while WIU competed in the league from 1914-70

NEW BLOOD: A total of 71.7 percent (213-of-297) of EMU's scoring and 57.4 percent (89-of-112) of its rebounding have come from newcomers to the roster. Of that 71.7 percent of the team's total scoring, an incredible 63.8 percent (136-of-213) have come from just two players: freshman guard Noah Farrakhan and senior guard Monty Scott, who happen to be stepbrothers.

REBOUND!: Eastern Michigan was able to do something versus Michigan State that no one else has been able to do – outrebound the Spartans. EMU controlled the glass, 43-41, including grabbing 13 offensive caroms.
   The last team to outwork MSU on the glass was Michigan, March 3, 2021, when the Wolverines had a six rebound advantage (34 to 24). Michigan won that game 69-50.

DEEP IMPACT: The Green and White shot a season-high 47.1 percent from three at Michigan State, Nov. 20, hitting 8-of-17. Additionally, EMU's 39.2 percent from deep on the season is first in the MAC, and 90th in the country.

VETERAN DEFENSE: Senior Monty Scott is averaging 2.0 steals per game, sixth in the MAC. Scott leads Eastern with eight steals. The Eagles are fifth in the Mid-American Conference with 26 total steals.

FRESHMAN FORCE: Freshman guard Noah Farrakhan continues to lead the Eagles in the scoring column, having done so in three of four games this season. Farrakhan most recently scored 14 at Michigan State, Nov. 20. The freshman has scored in double-digits in all four games this season and ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference with 17.5 points per game.

DOING MO: Eastern Michigan saw freshman Mo Njie recorded a career-high four rejections at Michigan State, Nov. 20. Njie recently snagged a career-high seven rebounds to lead the team at NKU, Nov. 18. The Centerville, Ohio native is tied for the second-highest rebounding total with 17. Furthermore, the freshman is second in the MAC with 1.7 blocks per game, and his five total blocks help Eastern sit third in the MAC with 4.25 blocks per game.

MIGHTY MONTY: Senior transfer Monty Scott used his veteran experience to set up his teammates, as he dished out five assists at Michigan State, Nov. 20, the most yet while in a Green and White uniform. Scott once handed out seven helpers as a member of the Portland State Vikings. His 3.3 assists per game is good for ninth in the Mid-American Conference.
   Additionally, the Union, N.J. native leads the team with a 57.1 field goal shooting percentage, which ranks 11th in the MAC.

DOUBLE-DIGIT SCORING: EMU got double-digit scoring from freshman Noah Farrakhan (14 points), classmate Colin Golson Jr. (11 points), and senior Monty Scott (10 points) against Michigan State, Nov. 20.
   The Eagles have had at least three players score in double-digits in all but one game this season (3-of-4). At Indiana, Nov. 9, only two members of the Green and White scored 10-or-more.

MARATHON MAN: Freshman Noah Farrakhan ranks fourth in the Mid-American Conference in minutes per game with an average of 34.0. Farrakhan also ranks 169th in the nation in field goal attempts with 65.

BLOCK(E) DEFENSE: Eastern Michigan recorded a season-high six blocks at Michigan State, Nov. 20. The total ranks third in the Mid-American Conference for single-game performances this season. This performance following the five-block contest at NKU, Nov. 18, is tied for the fourth best in the conference.

CAPITALIZE AT THE LINE: Eastern Michigan is led by freshman Noah Farrakhan at the free throw line, (minimum eight attempts) through the first four games this season, shooting 84.2 percent. Farrakhan was 4-of-4 from the charity stripe at MSU, Nov. 20.

LUKA'S INTRODUCTION: Freshman Luke Savicevic played his first minutes of the season at Michigan State, Nov. 20. Savicevic played a total of 11 minutes, scoring eight points, including hitting 2-of-3 from deep and grabbing a steal.

NATE THE GREAT: Senior Nate Scott earned his first start with the Green and White in EMU's contest at NKU, Nov. 18. He finished with EMU-career-high marks in numerous categories, including: points (15), minutes (31), field goals (5), three-pointers (1), free throws (4), and blocks (2).

HALFTIME LEAD: EMU took an 11-point lead into the halftime intermission in a game, at NKU, Nov. 18. It was the first intermission lead for the team this season having faced deficits of 18 (Michigan State, Nov. 20), 17 (Indiana, Nov. 9), and 12 (Illinois State, Nov. 12).

PLAYING THEM TIGHT: Eastern Michigan has had plenty of high-leverage moments in its first three contests. Three of four games have been decided by a combined 12 points.

BEST OF THE YEAR (SO FAR): EMU held a 13-point advantage (35-22) with just under one minute remaining in the first half of its contest at Northern Kentucky, Nov. 18. It is the largest lead for Eastern at any point during this 2021-22 season. EMU's previous best advantage was eight, a margin it held for a brief period over Illinois State, Nov. 12.
   EMU's 35 points are the most for the team in a first half, and fourth-most in any half this season for the Eagles. EMU's previous best first half total was 32, which it put up vs. Illinois State, Nov. 12.

20/20 VISION: Eastern Michigan saw a pair of 20+ point performances in consecutive games. Senior Monty Scott dropped a season-high 28 points, while junior Bryce McBride added 23 against Illinois State, Nov. 12. Scott again crossed the 20-point plateau, dropping 21 at NKU, Nov. 18, while freshman Noah Farrakhan added 21 of his own.
    The last time the Green and White had back-to-back contests with two 20+ scorers was in the 2016-17 season. In both contests, it was former Eagles Willie Mangum IV and Raven Lee that did the damage. The two scored 22 and 21, respectively, against Northern Illinois, Feb. 25, 2017. The following game was Lee's famous 50-point, record-breaking performance, against Central Michigan, Feb. 28. The 50-point effort is still the program record. Mangum IV added 24 in that contest.

IF IT'S NOT GLUED DOWN: Eastern's 13 steals against Illinois State, Nov. 12, is tied for second most in a game in the MAC this season. Moreover, the total is more steals than the Eagles had against any Division I opponent last season.

STEPBROTHERS: The dynamic duo of stepbrothers senior Monty Scott and freshman Noah Farrakhan have proven to be a crucial offseason addition to the Eagles. Most recently, the brothers totaled 42 points at Northern Kentucky, which made up 57.5 percent of EMU's total offensive output (73).
   Furthermore, Scott and Farrakhan have been responsible for 46.1 percent (136-of-297) of Eastern's offense through four games this season.

ALL-TIME VS. WESTERN ILLINOIS: Eastern Michigan is 9-19 all-time against Western Illinois University heading into the Nov. 24 matchup. The two schools have not played one another since 1975.

LAST TIME AGAINST WIU: The last time Eastern Michigan played Western Illinois was Dec. 30, 1975. Eastern lost 89-76 in the contest, and was outshot 45-.5 percent to 40 percent. Despite outrebounding WIU, 52-43, the EMU had 29 turnovers their 19.
   Leading the Eagles was Bob Riddle who scored 33 points on 15-of-27 shooting, and topped everyone in the contest with 18 rebounds. Dan Hoff handed out a team-high six assists, and was the second leading scorer for the Green and White with 13 points.

ALL-TIME VERSUS THE SUMMIT LEAGUE: Overall, Eastern is 18-21 against Summit League teams in program history. In fact, Western Illinois is the only Summit League team that EMU holds a losing record with, 9-19. The Green and White have winning records over Denver (1-0), IPFW (3-0), IUPUI (3-1), and North Dakota State (2-1).

ON THE HORIZON: Following Thanksgiving, Eastern Michigan travels to Chicago, Ill. to finish off the DePaul Blue Demon Classic against host, DePaul, Nov. 28. The contest will be on FS1 and is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET

Eastern Returns Home Wednesday, Nov. 24, for Pre-Thanksgiving Matinee

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Players Mentioned

Noah Farrakhan

Colin Golson Jr.

Bryce McBride

Mo Njie

Monty Scott

Nate Scott

Eastern Michigan Athletics